Rotating cylinder engine

ABSTRACT

A rotating cylinder internal combustion engine includes an eccentric shaft carrying an air supply and fuel injection outlet for each engine cylinder, a plurality of engine cylinders mounted to rotate about the shaft so as to receive air from the associated air supply outlet on the shaft at the bottom of a piston stroke when the internal cylinder volume is at a maximum and fuel near the top of the stroke when the air is compressed, and a rotor structure surrounding the eccentric shaft and the engine cylinders and connected to the pistons, and exhaust ducts passing through the engine cylinder side wall and the piston for exhausting air.

United States Patent Bartlett et al.

1451 Apr. 11, 1972 [54] ROTATING CYLINDER ENGINE 221 Filed: Apr. 20, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 29,995

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 412,745 2/1946 Italy ..123/44 B Primary Examiner-Clarence R. Gordon Attorney-Edwin E. Greigg [57] ABSTRACT A rotating cylinder internal combustion engine includes an eccentric shaft carrying an air supply and fuel injection outlet for each engine cylinder, a plurality of engine cylinders mounted to rotate about the shaft so as to receive air from the associated air supply outlet on the shaft at the bottom of a piston stroke when the internal cylinder volume is at a maximum and fuel near the top of the stroke when the air is compressed, and a rotor structure surrounding the eccentric shaft and the engine cylinders and connected to the pistons, and exhaust ducts passing through the engine cylinder side wall and the piston for exhausting air.

1 1 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Q as 7 minmnll PATENTEDAPR 1 1 i972 SHEET 1 0F 4.

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FIG. I

PATENTEBAPR 11 m2 SHEET 3 [IF 4 FIG. 3

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to fluid powered engines, and more particularly to an engine in which the engine cylinders during normal engine operation move past fluid passages to receive and exhaust the working fluid and thus avoid the need for valve structure.

In most fluid powered engines, either of the internal combustion type or of the type driven by a fluid, such as steam, a complex valve structure must be provided to permit the entry and exhaust of the working fluid at appropriate times during the working cycle. Besides involving the expense of providing complex mating parts and timing devices, such as cams, such valve structures are subject to wear, breakdown, and require precise adjustment.

In addition, if the engine is an internal combustion engine, apparatus must be provided for supplying a combustible fuelair mixture and for igniting the mixture at the appropriate time during the engine cycle. Such apparatus involves additional expense. The fuel-air mixture system requires a carburetor and a choke, and the ignition system requires spark plugs, ignition coils, distributors, points, and other apparatus to deliver a spark of appropriate voltage at the proper time during the cycle.

Fuel injection systems have been used to avoid the necessity of providing fuel-air mixture apparatus and an ignition system. These, however, are complex since they normally involve apparatus utilizing many moving parts to deliver the fuel at the proper time during the engine cycle.

In addition, most internal combustion engines require outside muffler systems and cooling systems.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of apparatus which minimizes the expense of providing intake and exhaust valves in a fluid powered engine of either the internal combustion type, or of the type driven by a fluid such as steam.

A further object of the invention is the elimination of the need for a system for providing a fuel-air mixture and an electric ignition system in a rotating cylinder internal combustion engine.

Among other objects of the invention is the provision of an engine having a minimum number of moving parts with consequent reduction of manufacturing expense, and of friction in use, and in which the need for an outside muffler system is eliminated and which has an efficient cooling system.

Briefly stated, these and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a rotating cylinder internal combustion engine which includes an eccentric shaft carrying air supply and fuel injection outlets for each engine cylinder, a plurality of engine cylinders which rotate about the shaft to successively receive the air at the bottom stroke of the piston and the fuel after the air has been compressed, a rotor fixed to the ends of the pistons, and exhaust ducts passing through the engine cylinder side walls and the piston for exhausting combustion products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood, and further objects and advantages will become more apparent, from a reading of the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a sectional view taken on line l-l of FIG. 2 of an engine constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the engine of FIG. 1 and its associated equipment;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the crankshaft and portions of equipment connected thereto taken on a vertical plane passing through the axis of the crankshaft;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a transverse view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view through a piston of the present invention taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view through a piston taken on line 9- 9 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view through a piston taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a rotating cylinder engine according to the present invention includes a stator cylinder 14 to which is secured a fixed crankshaft 16 including a central end shaft 18 and an eccentric shaft 20. A plurality of engine cylinders 22 are mounted for rotation about eccentric shaft 20. A piston 24 reciprocates relative to each engine cylinder and each has an integral connecting rod 26 secured to an oscillating shaft 28. Shafts 28 are joumaled within bosses 30 which project inwardly from a rotor 32.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the stator 14 includes an outer ring-like body 40 which has an engine exhaust port 42 fonned at its lower end and support legs 44 at its lower extremity. As viewed when looking into the drawing of FIG. 2, a left end plate 46 and a right end plate 47 are secured to ring body 40 in any desired way, for example by suitable bolt means, to form the hollow cylindrical body of stator 14. Left end plate has an oil intake port 48 formed within it, as shown. The center of left end plate 46 has a means defining a central opening 49 surrounded by a cylindrical flange 50 to form space for a bearing which will be described in more detail later.

The right end plate 47 includes means providing an oil exhaust port 52 formed at a point closely adjacent to its periphery. Immediately above the exhaust port 52 there is formed an integral fitting 53 having a means defining a central opening 54 extending diagonally down therethrough. Additional oil can be added to the engine through the passage 54. In addition, a conventional oil measuring or test device, such as an ullage rod (not shown), can be accommodated within this passage.

The center of right end plate 47 has a central opening 56 fonned therein which is surrounded by an outwardly facing flange 57. A passage 58 is fonned through the flange 57 and is bored and later provided with an internal thread 59. Passage 58 serves as part of the air supply system for the engine which will be better understood as the description progresses.

The fixed crankshaft 16 has its central end shaft 18 secured within the central opening 56 in right end plate 47 by a bolt means 60.

Central end shaft 18 has a diagonal air duct 62 passing therethrough, which, in use, is coaxially aligned with the passage 58. The inner end of diagonal duct 62 opens into an axially extending air duct 63 (see FIG. 4). Duct 63 extends through the central end shaft 18 and continues into the eccentric shaft portion 20 of the crankshaft 16.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, axial duct 63 has four ducts 73 extending radially outward therefrom to the outer circumference of eccentric shaft 20. There is one of these ducts for each cylinder, and as will be hereinafter explained, these ducts are arranged to supply air successively to each of the engine cylinders.

Opposite each of the air outlet ducts 73 there is formed a circular fuel injector recess 74 of the same diameter as duct 73. Recess 74 extends from the shaft periphery for approximately two-thirds of the distance towards air duct 63. A smaller threaded opening, which is coaxial with recess 74, extends approximately one-half the remaining distance to air duct 63, and a still smaller coaxial opening 76 extends the remainder of the distance into air duct 63. Fuel lines 77, one for each cylinder, extend through air duct 63 to the threaded end members 78 which are threaded into intermediate openings and have injector nozzle member 79 secured thereto.

Eccentric shaft portion 20 is connected to the end shaft por- 5 tion 18 by a connector link means 64 and bolt means 65, 66

which secure connector means 64 to end shaft 18 and the right end of eccentric shaft 20 respectively. The left end of eccentric shaft carries a reduced shaft portion 67 which is connected by bolt 68 to a connector link 69. A bolt 70 secures connector link 69 and a stub shaft 71 which is coaxial with the central end shaft 18 of the crankshaft. The end of stub shaft 71 extends for a short distance beyond connector link 69 to accommodate a ball bearing 72.

The cylindrical rotor 32 rotates on bearing 72. Rotor 32 is somewhat similar in construction to stator 14 in that it is in the form of a hollow cylinder. It is formed of an annular body 80 having a left end plate 82 and a right end plate 83 secured thereto. Left end plate 82 is formed with a means defining a central opening 84 surrounded by an outwardly projecting cylindrical flange 85. The opening 84 has fitted within it a roller bearing 72 which surrounds the end of the stub shaft section 71 of the stationary crankshaft. A cap plate 86 covers the opening 84 with which the bearing is positioned and also surrounds the cylindrical flange 85 and is secured to left end plate 82 by bolts 87. A drive shaft 88 is formed integrally with the outer end of cap plate 86 and is coaxial with the center of the rotor. Drive shaft 88 is mounted in a roller bearing assembly 89 which, in turn, is mounted in the axial opening 49 of the stators left end plate. A cap plate 90 is suitably secured in any preferred manner to the cylindrical flange 50 of the stator end plate and holds the bearing 89 in position.

The right end plate 83 of the rotor has a means defining a central opening 92 therein surrounded by a flange 93 which extends axially outwardly thereof. A ball bearing means 94 fits within the means defining the opening 92 and surrounds the central end shaft section 18 of the crankshaft 16. A circumferential flange 95 extends circumferentially inwardly as a continuation of the inner surface of right end plate 83 so as to prevent axial movement of bearing 94.

Each of the end plates 82, 83 of the rotor contains large oil flow ports 9797 which are located approximately midway between the center of the plate and its circumference and are equi-angularly spaced about it. Small oil escape ports 98 are located radially outward from the ports 97 and are so positioned that their outermost portion is aligned with the inner surface of annular body 80 of the rotor. As a result, oil which is driven outwardly to the interior of the rotor by centrifugal force may flow out through these ports.

Each of the rotor end plates 82, 83 has an outwardly extending circumferential flange fixed at its outer circumference. Flange 99 contains an axially extending groove 101 within which there are circular sealing rings 102 biased axially outward by springs 103 into engagement with the inner surface of the stator end plates 46 and 47, respectively.

Circumferential grooves 104 (FIG. 4) extend completely about the circumference of the eccentric shaft 20. There are four of these grooves for each engine cylinder. They accommodate sliding rings 106 which engage in corresponding grooves 108 in collar bearing units 110 which secure the engine cylinders 22 for rotation about the shaft.

As can be best seen in FIG. 6, each collar bearing unit 110 is formed of two half sections 112 and 114 secured together by threaded bolt means 115. The half section 1 14 serves as a connecting rod section and is joined, by welding or the like, to an end wall 116 of an associated engine cylinder 22. A means defining an opening 118 of the same diameter as air duct 73 and fuel recess 74 in eccentric shaft 20 extends from the inner surface of bearing section 114. This aperture 118 extends approximately half-way through the bearing wall and then is increased in area into a larger diameter coaxial opening 120 which extends to the outer wall of the bearing. A reinforcing ring 122 is secured within opening 120 and an opening 124 in the end wall 116 of the cylinder.

A recess 126, which can be best seen in FIG. 6, is formed in the outer periphery of eccentric shaft section 20 adjacent to each of the air outlet ducts 63. The depth of this recess is shown much exaggerated in FIG. 6, the actual depth being on the order of only 0.005 in. This recess receives compressed gases from the engine piston and directs it about shaft 20 to form a gas film between it and the associated bearings hereinafter described. Recess 126 has an area corresponding to that of the upper surface area of piston 24.

In addition to end wall 116, each engine cylinder 22 includes a cylindrical side wall 128 having outwardly projecting integral cooling fins 130. The farthest radially outward portion of cylindrical wall 128 is enlarged at 132 to provide space for an exhaust duct 134. As can be seen from FIG. 6, and the sectional view of FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, there are a number of these ducts, each angularly spaced about the engine side wall 128. Each duct includes an inlet portion 136 extending radially outward from the interior of the cylinder 22 to a central portion which extends in an axial direction through a length of the side wall to an outlet portion 139 which extends radially inward to the inner surface of the engine cylinder.

The engine pistons 24 are so mounted that at the end of each stroke the end surface 142 clears the inlet portion 136 of the exhaust duct 134. Piston 24 also includes exhaust ducts 144. Each exhaust duct includes a radial inlet section which has substantially the same diameter as the outlet portion of the exhaust duct 134 in the engine cylinder wall and which becomes aligned therewith at the end of the engine stroke to receive exhaust gases therefrom. At the same time scavenging air enters the cylinder from the air duct 63 to help drive exhaust products out duct 134. The piston exhaust inlets 145 extend inward to a central duct portion 146 which extends along the axis of the piston to its radially outward end and through the integral piston connecting rod 26.

The outer end of connecting rod 26 terminates in a threaded portion 150 which is threaded into a corresponding opening 156 in oscillating shaft 28. The means defining the opening 156 extends approximately half-way diametrally across shaft 28. An engine exhaust duct 157 having the same dimensions as central passage 146 of the piston extends across the remaining diameter of shaft 28. The oscillating shaft 28 is mounted in a bearing positioned in opening 158 in boss 30, the latter being integral with the cylindrical wall 80 of rotor 32. An exhaust duct 160 is provided in the rotor wall 80 and is aligned with the exhaust duct passage 157 when oscillating shaft 28 is in its mid position as best shown in FIG. 6. A recess 162 extends through the wall of boss 30 to the bearing portion to accommodate oscillating movement of the piston connecting rod 26.

Referring at this time to FIG. 3, associated equipment for the engine is illustrated. This equipment includes an air blower which is connected in such a manner as to supply air to the passage 58 in the eccentric shaft and thence to the air duct 63. A fuel pump 172 is connected to supply fuel at high pressure to each of the fuel lines 77. A cap 174 (FIG. 4) is fixed in the end of air duct portion 63 which passes through the central end shaft 18. This cap is so shaped as to permit passage of the fuel lines 77 therethrough, but to prevent exit of air supplied from blower 170.

An exhaust pipe 176 is connected to the stator exhaust port 42.

A heat exchanger 178 is connected by a tube 179 to receive lubricating oil from the oil exhaust port 52. The coolant is water supplied from a radiator which itself is cooled by an air fan. The cooled oil is pumped by a pump means 182 through a line 184 to the oil intake port 48 in the stator. Pump 182 also supplies lubricating oil via lines 186, 187, and 188 to the drive shaft 88, the fuel pump 172, and the blower 170, respectively.

OPERATION OF THE ENGINE Only a cursory description of the operation will be given, since it is felt that the operation is obvious from the foregoing description of the structure and the accompanying drawings.

In operation, the engine cylinders rotate in the direction in which rotation starts.

Air is supplied by blower 170 through diagonal air duct 62 and axial air duct 63 and radial outlet air duct 73 to each engine cylinder as it rotates past the axial air outlet duct 63. Assume at this time that the piston 24 is at the end of a power stroke and the incoming air serves a scavenging function to force the combustion products from the previous stroke through the exhaust duct 134 to the engine cylinder side walls and thence through the exhaust duct 145 in the piston, through duct 157 in the oscillating shaft and duct 160 to the rotor wall 80.

The exhaust products gather in the space between the cylindrical wall 80 of the rotor and the cylindrical wall 40 of the stator. This space serves somewhat the same function as a muffler. The combustion products then flow out through the stator exhaust port 42 and the exhaust pipe 176.

At the end of the power stroke the particular engine cylinder is in the lowermost position as shown in FIG. 1, at which time the oscillating shaft 28 is at its farthest distance from eccentric shaft 20. As the rotor continues to rotate, it carries with it the engine cylinder and the piston and an oscillating movement of shaft 28 causes the engine cylinder and the piston to be displaced to one side of the rotor radius as it moves into the position shown by one of the side pistons in FIG. 1. When the engine cylinder reaches the position of the uppermost cylinder of FIG. 1, the piston connecting shaft 28 is at its closest point to the eccentric shaft 20. At this time the air within the piston has been compressed to its maximum extent. The position occupied by the piston within the cylinder at this time is shown in FIG. 5. Also, at this time the intake duct opening 118, which is located in the bearing section 114 in the end wall of the cylinder, is aligned with the fuel injection opening 74. Due to the high temperature of the air therein, the fuel is ignited. The expansion resulting therefrom causes the next power stroke to occur as the piston moves down to its lowermost position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6.

The threaded adjustment of piston connecting rod 26 in the oscillating shaft 155 provides a means by which the compression ration can be varied. In addition, the threaded arrangement of nozzle 79 on the threaded end 78 of fuel line 77 permits some adjustment of the amount of fuel injected.

Lubricant enters from the heat exchanger 178 through the stator oil intake 48 where it accumulates between the stator left end plate 46, the circumferential sealing rings 41 and the rotor left end plate 82. Oil passes through the oil ducts 97 in the end plate 82 of the rotor. Within the rotor this oil helps cool the engine cylinders. In general the oil moves outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force. Much of it flows out through the oil escape ports 98 because of their position in which they are aligned with the inner surface of the cylindrical wall 80 of the rotor. Such of the oil as flows back between the left end (as shown in FIG. 2) of the rotor and the stator accumulates adjacent seal 102 and tends to prevent the breaking of the seal between the lubricant region and the engine exhaust region. Any excess oil accumulating there mixes with the new oil coming from the oil inlet. On the right side of the stator as shown in FIG. 1, some of the oil flows out through the oil ducts 97. The oil finally flows out of the stator through oil outlet port 52 and thence back to the heat exchanger.

It will be apparent that there has been provided a rotating cylinder engine in which there is no need for an electric ignition system nor for a system for mixing fuel and air before it is supplied to the engine cylinders. In addition, the need for cams and other timing devices and for outside mufilers has been eliminated. An efficient cooling system has also been provided.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described, many variations of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations as are within the scope of the following claims are covered by this patent.

That which is claimed is:

1. A rotating cylinder engine comprising in combination:

A. a support structure,

B. a hollow cylindrical rotor structure having a central axis mounted on the support structure for rotation about said axis,

C. an eccentric shaft of circular cross section mounted within said rotor and fixed to said support structure and having a central axis parallel to, but offset from, said central axis of said rotor,

D. a passage extending through the interior of said shaft and terminating in a fluid outlet at the periphery of said shaft, said passage serving as means for conducting fluid,

E. an engine cylinder having a cylindrical side wall and an end wall connected for rotation about said shaft and within said rotor, said end wall having a first fluid passage means passing through it for conducting fluid from said shaft fluid outlet into the interior of said cylinder, said engine cylinder having a second fluid passage therein for conducting fluid from an inlet which is radially spaced from said end wall to an outlet which is spaced a greater radial distance from said end wall than said inlet,

F. a piston mounted in said cylinder and connected to said rotor for reciprocating movement between a point which is spaced further radially outward of said second passage inlet to a point which is spaced radially inward of said second passage inlet, said piston having a passage for conducting fluid from said second passage outlet to an opening located in said rotor.

2. The engine of claim 1, wherein said engine cylinder has a collar bearing connected thereto and surrounding said eccentric shaft for mounting said cylinder for rotation about said shaft, and including means for conducting fluid from said shaft passage into the space between said collar and said shaft periphery.

3. The engine of claim 2, wherein said means for conducting fluid into the space between said shaft periphery and said collar includes a groove cut in said shaft periphery and extending from said shaft passage outlet.

4. The engine of claim 1, wherein said support structure is a stator having end walls extending perpendicular to the axis of said rotor cylinder, said rotor cylinder having end walls with circumferential sealing means extending therefrom for engaging said stator end walls, said stator end walls having an inlet passage means formed therein for conducting fluid into and out of the space bounded by said stator and rotor end walls and within said circumferential sealing means.

5. The engine of claim 4, wherein said rotor cylinder end walls include passages therein for conducting fluid from the space between said stator and rotor end walls and into the interior of said rotor cylinder.

6. The engine of claim 5, wherein one stator end wall on one end of the rotor cylinder has a fluid inlet passage formed therein, and the other stator end wall has a fluid outlet thereon.

7. The engine defined in claim 4, wherein there are a plurality of fluid conducting passages formed through said rotor walls, at least one of which is located at the cylindrical wall of the rotor to serve as an outlet for fluid driven to said cylindrical wall by centrifugal force, and another of which is spaced radially inwardly from said cylindrical wall to serve as an inlet for fluid flow into the rotor.

8. The engine of claim 1, wherein said shaft has a fuel conducting tube therein extending to an outlet at the periphery of said shaft at a point which is axially aligned with said fluid outlet passage on the shaft but which is angularly spaced therefrom, and wherein said eccentric shaft is so fixed within said rotor that said engine cylinder internal volume is near its maximum when said engine cylinder passes said shaft fluid outlet, and is near its minimum when said piston rotates past said fuel outlet.

9. A rotating cylinder internal combustion compression engine comprising, in combination:

A. a support structure including an eccentric shaft of circular cross section having an axial passage therein,

B. a plurality of engine cylinders mounted for rotation about said shaft at points axially spaced from each other,

C. a piston mounted in each cylinder for reciprocating movement relative thereto,

7 8 D. means connected to the cylinder and the piston for said pistons and said rotors to rotate the rotor in response delivering rotary movement, to reciprocating movement of said pistons within the en- E. fuel injection and air intake means formed within said gine cylinder.

shaft and further including fuel injection and air intake 10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the means conoutlets for each cylinder extending from said passage to necting said pistons to said rotor are adjustable in length to the shaft periphery at axially aligned, but angularly thereby vary the compression ratio of said motor.

spaced, points, each f said engine li d h i a 11. The engine of claim 10, wherein said means for connectli d i l d ll h i a passage f d ing the piston to the rotor includes a shaft of circular cross sectherethrough which successively comes into alignment tion into WhiCh the radially outward fi 9 Said Elston is with the f l injection and air intake outlets for said 10 threaded and boss means fixed to the interior of said rotor gine cylinder on Said h ft and mounting said shaft for oscillating movement about an axis F. said means for delivering rotary movement includes a Parallelto that ofsaid eccentric shaftrotor surrounding said cylinders and means connecting 

1. A rotating cylinder engine comprising in combination: A. a support structure, B. a hollow cylindrical rotor structure having a central axis mounted on the support structure for rotation about said axis, C. an eccentric shaft of circular cross section mounted within said rotor and fixed to said support structure and having a central axis parallel to, but offset from, said central axis of said rotor, D. a passage extending through the interior of said shaft and terminating in a fluid outlet at the periphery of said shaft, said passage serving as means for conducting fluid, E. an engine cylinder having a cylindrical side wall and an end wall connected for rotation about said shaft and within said rotor, said end wall having a first fluid passage means passing through it for conducting fluid from said shaft fluid outlet into the interior of said cylinder, said engine cylinder having a second fluid passage therein for conducting fluid from an inlet which is radially spaced from said end wall to an outlet which is spaced a greater radial distance from said end wall than said inlet, F. a piston mounted in said cylinder and connected to said rotor for reciprocating movement between a point which is spaced further radially outward of said second passage inlet to a point which is spaced radially inward of said second passage inlet, said piston having a passage for conducting fluid from said second passage outlet to an opening located in said rotor.
 2. The engine of claim 1, wherein said engine cylinder has a collar bearing connected thereto and surrounding said eccentric shaft for mounting said cylinder for rotation about said shaft, and including means for conducting fluid from said shaft passage into the space between said collar and said shaft periphery.
 3. The engine of claim 2, wherein said means for conducting fluid into the space between said shaft periphery and said collar includes a groove cut in said shaft periphery and extending from said shaft passage outlet.
 4. The engine of claim 1, wherein said support structure is a stator having end walls extending perpendicular to the axis of said rotor cylinder, said rotor cylinder having end walls with circumferential sealing means extending therefrom for engaging said stator end walls, said statOr end walls having an inlet passage means formed therein for conducting fluid into and out of the space bounded by said stator and rotor end walls and within said circumferential sealing means.
 5. The engine of claim 4, wherein said rotor cylinder end walls include passages therein for conducting fluid from the space between said stator and rotor end walls and into the interior of said rotor cylinder.
 6. The engine of claim 5, wherein one stator end wall on one end of the rotor cylinder has a fluid inlet passage formed therein, and the other stator end wall has a fluid outlet thereon.
 7. The engine defined in claim 4, wherein there are a plurality of fluid conducting passages formed through said rotor walls, at least one of which is located at the cylindrical wall of the rotor to serve as an outlet for fluid driven to said cylindrical wall by centrifugal force, and another of which is spaced radially inwardly from said cylindrical wall to serve as an inlet for fluid flow into the rotor.
 8. The engine of claim 1, wherein said shaft has a fuel conducting tube therein extending to an outlet at the periphery of said shaft at a point which is axially aligned with said fluid outlet passage on the shaft but which is angularly spaced therefrom, and wherein said eccentric shaft is so fixed within said rotor that said engine cylinder internal volume is near its maximum when said engine cylinder passes said shaft fluid outlet, and is near its minimum when said piston rotates past said fuel outlet.
 9. A rotating cylinder internal combustion compression engine comprising, in combination: A. a support structure including an eccentric shaft of circular cross section having an axial passage therein, B. a plurality of engine cylinders mounted for rotation about said shaft at points axially spaced from each other, C. a piston mounted in each cylinder for reciprocating movement relative thereto, D. means connected to the cylinder and the piston for delivering rotary movement, E. fuel injection and air intake means formed within said shaft and further including fuel injection and air intake outlets for each cylinder extending from said passage to the shaft periphery at axially aligned, but angularly spaced, points, each of said engine cylinders having a cylindrical end wall having a passage formed therethrough which successively comes into alignment with the fuel injection and air intake outlets for said engine cylinder on said shaft, and F. said means for delivering rotary movement includes a rotor surrounding said cylinders and means connecting said pistons and said rotors to rotate the rotor in response to reciprocating movement of said pistons within the engine cylinder.
 10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the means connecting said pistons to said rotor are adjustable in length to thereby vary the compression ratio of said motor.
 11. The engine of claim 10, wherein said means for connecting the piston to the rotor includes a shaft of circular cross section into which the radially outward end of said piston is threaded and boss means fixed to the interior of said rotor mounting said shaft for oscillating movement about an axis parallel to that of said eccentric shaft. 